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Uh oh...from slice to hook. ideas?

post #1 of 16
3/22/13 at 9:05am
Thread Starter 

Hey guys,

 

So from about the time I started playing regularly until about 18 months ago, I was captain slice. I came over the top and just striped that ball three fairway over almost effortlessly. It happened with driver through about 7 iron on every shot. Needless to say, I hated golf and almost quit.

 

I worked for a few years at my local club and luckily got a few free lessons with the club pro. I knew I have some decent ability and passion for the game, so I refused to quit. After a few lessons, the club pro got my slice slowly vanishing. Also with a purchase of new irons that are actually a reputable brand, but more importantly, the proper size, my slice was gone in a matter of about 3 months. My club pro basically completely forced me to change my swing. He explained my slice was so bad, he didnt want to try and just correct it; he wanted to teach me how to hit a draw. I'm not a big guy so he felt teaching me a draw, would lead to not only more control, but for me to get some more distance out of game. He also knew another issue with my swing was, I have an extremely low flight plain.

 

So in about 3 months my swing went from slice to draw. Consistent draw with every club, except driver. Driver still has always been a mind **** for me. But I practiced and practiced until I thought I was gonna start sleeping at the range, and finally, I was hitting straight, almost slightly drawed drives. So everything was great.

 

But for some reason that greatness didnt last. For the last half of last season to currently, my shots are not approx 50% straight, perfect (for me) shots, 50% god awful, putrid, violent, vomit induced, snap hooks. From driver to about 7 iron, I am snap hooking it about 50 yds 50% of my shots with those clubs.

 

Wtf? I know that was a long rambling, but somebody please help. I no longer work at that club so going back to the club pro is out of the question. I dont exactly have the means for another coach. And please dont just say "try google". I know there are plenty of guys on here with a lot more knowledge and ability than me. I have tried hitting buckets with different grips because I thought that was the issue at one point. I have tried alignment rods; dont think thats its. I dont know.

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post #2 of 16
3/22/13 at 7:17pm

Do you have the ability to video yourself?

 

You're quite likely now hitting pull-hooks or pull-draws. Especially since you say they're low.

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post #3 of 16
3/22/13 at 10:50pm
Thread Starter 

Yeah I definitely will the next time I hit the range. The thing is occasionally I do hit these beautiful high draws with great control and flight. But then a lot of the time of the tee I am snap hooking about 100yds out. I have a feeling I'm over exaggerating turning my hands over. But I really dont know.

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post #4 of 16
3/22/13 at 10:54pm

Why are you turning your hands over?

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post #5 of 16
3/23/13 at 2:37pm

How are you hitting the draw? If it is by aiming to the right of the target and turning the club face towards the target, then it may be that your club face at impact is too closed.

 

When I first started playing I was a slicer, never really had a problem with hooks. But when practice, sometimes I fool around deliberately trying to hit hooks and it is quite easy to do by swinging in-to-out, but what makes a more drastic effect is turning the hands over, so this could be your problem. Difficult to know without seeing.

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post #6 of 16
3/23/13 at 5:45pm
Thread Starter 

I dont know haha. And maybe I'm not, but it feels like I am just by bad habit sometimes.
 

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post #7 of 16
3/23/13 at 5:58pm
Do your snap hooks start to the right of the target or to the left? (I assume you're a righty)
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post #8 of 16
3/23/13 at 10:05pm
Thread Starter 

I'm a righty. And the snap hooks generally start out straight at the target but real low and the just snap left maybe 50-100 yds out. When I hit is pure and well its a nice high draw just how I want.

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post #9 of 16
3/24/13 at 3:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by atb5079 View Post

I'm a righty. And the snap hooks generally start out straight at the target but real low and the just snap left maybe 50-100 yds out. When I hit is pure and well its a nice high draw just how I want.


apart from rolling your hands over, are you trying to get the shoulder under the chin on the downswing?....it will change the shoulder line and you will get that snap hook.

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post #10 of 16
3/24/13 at 5:13pm
Thread Starter 

hmmm didnt think about that at all

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post #11 of 16
3/24/13 at 5:59pm
Your path is too far out. You could aim your clubface to the right but then you'd be hitting big old draws, much bigger and tougher to manage than a nice little draw. You need to swing a little less out, maybe feel like you're swinging left a little.

Of course you will still have to aim the clubface a little right of the target to allow for the draw.
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post #12 of 16
3/24/13 at 7:27pm
Thread Starter 

Wouldnt that be sort of more like a cut swing thing?

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post #13 of 16
3/24/13 at 7:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by atb5079 View Post

Wouldnt that be sort of more like a cut swing thing?

 

what part?  the swinging left part?  i said that he might need to feel like hes swinging left, but thats possibly because hes swinging so far out to the right.  having the clubface open to the target at impact is what all good players do to have the ball draw back to the target (starts right of target but curves back).

 

obviously if he overdoes it he'll hit a cut, but at this point his clubface and swing path are not synced to each other.

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post #14 of 16
3/24/13 at 9:05pm
Without seeing your swing it is hard to know exactly what is the ROOT cause of your hook. It is important to remember the biggest influence on where the golf ball goes, is the clubface at impact. If the face is closed relative to the swing path (and in many cases, but not all, closed to the target) the ball will hook. If the clubface is open relative to the swing path the ball will slice. The second biggest influence is the path of the club. An in to out swing will promote a push to the right or a hook. An out to in swing path will promote a pull to the left or a slice. The next time you go to the range, deliberatly hit 5 hooks, then hit 5 slices then the hardest of all 5 straight. Doing that at the range once may help but if you have the time to accalerate your learning do the above drill every day for 21 days. The drill willl help you become aware of what the clubhead is doing and what the path of your swing is or what it needs to be to hit the shots you want to hit. For an advanced tip, when doing this play a game called 2 point golf. You get one point if you hit the shape of shot you want and you get one point if the ball finishes at the target. (I presume you are aware of what an out to in and in to out swing path are - if not please reply for more info) There may be other factors that are causing the closed clubface such as your grip and setup. Your setup dictates many of the swing patterns that occur. Jack Nicklaus said that golf is 50% mental, 40%setup then 10% swing. You may already be aware of this but the further the hands are to the right (strong grip 3 knuckles visible on left hand, V formed between thumb and pointer finger on both hands are right of your right shoulder) on the grip (right handed golfer) the more likely you will hook it. The further your hands are to the left (weak grip) the more likely you will slice it. Hope this information helps
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post #15 of 16
3/24/13 at 9:08pm
Thread Starter 

Yeah I really just need to video tape myself. It cant be anything too major because I would say just about half the time off the tee i;m hitting it straight. The snap hooks happen on the tee a lot more than rough/fairway.

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post #16 of 16
3/25/13 at 6:22am
If you normally hit it straight, I would suspect a pull. Far more common to deviate in clubface than path.
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